Heart Transplant

Your child’s transplant journey begins with a complete evaluation of heart function and overall health. Our surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and intensive care specialists meet regularly to plan and monitor every stage of care. From pre-surgery planning to long-term follow-up, your family works with the same dedicated team that understands your child’s heart history.

Before surgery, we take time to explain imaging and procedure details clearly, helping you feel prepared and supported. After transplant, our pediatric cardiac ICU provides continuous monitoring to promote a safe recovery. Lifelong follow-up visits and care coordination help your child grow and thrive after transplant.

For children who need a heart transplant, we guide families through every stage, from evaluation to surgery to lifelong follow-up care. This process includes: 

Comprehensive evaluation

Your child meets with our multidisciplinary transplant team, who perform tests to assess overall health and transplant readiness.

Listing and waiting period

If a transplant is the best option, your child is added to the national transplant waiting list. Our team stays in close contact and manages medications, nutrition, and emotional well-being while you wait.

Transplant surgery

When a donor heart becomes available, our cardiac surgeons perform the transplant in collaboration with our pediatric cardiac anesthesia and teams to ensure a safe, coordinated procedure.  

Recovery and follow-up

After surgery, your child recovers in our Pediatric Cardiac ICU, followed by long-term follow-up with our heart transplant specialists. We monitor for rejection, adjust medications, and help your child return to school, activities, and daily life as safely as possible.

Our program doesn’t end with surgery. It’s a lifelong partnership. We’ll continue to follow your child as they grow, providing support through every milestone and transition.